'I have people's trust': TVK's Vijay at first public rally in Tamil Nadu post Karur stampede

Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay addressed a public rally in Tamil Nadu's Erode on Thursday, his first in the state and second big event since the September 27 Karur stampede.

Last week, TVK chief Vijay addressed a public rally in Puducherry, where also a large crowd gathered despite the initial permission of a gathering of just 5,000 people.

While addressing the massive gathering today, Vijay said, "Vested interests carrying out smear campaign against me don’t understand that I have the people's trust, built over 33 years."

The rally, where at least 35,000 people showed up, is doubly significant because it takes place near ex-AIADMK leader K Sengottaiyan's hometown of Vijayamangalam.

To manage that crowd, the ground has been divided into 72 'public boxes' that should not contain more than 500 people each. Attendees have also been warned against binging or bursting firecrackers before, during, or after the rally, and not to follow Vijay's convoy.

Vijay's TVK will make its electoral debut in next year's Assembly election. The TVK has made it clear it sees the DMK – its 'political enemy' – and the BJP – its 'ideological enemy' – as its biggest rivals next year, and has categorically ruled out any pre-poll alliance.

Erode rally comes after the incident in Karur that resulted in the deaths of 41 people and left at least 110 others injured. In the aftermath, Vijay faced criticism for not immediately visiting Karur or meeting the affected families.